But the more time I spent there, the more I realized just how diverse the city is: majestic deserted valleys, amazing beaches, national parks, and more. And whether you’re looking for fun nightlife, trendy lunch spots, wildly different neighborhoods, or stargazing (at the famous Griffith Park Observatory and various Hollywood movie locations), it’s all here.
So let’s get started.
From quiet canals to celebrity hotspots, discover the real Los Angeles through the eyes of travel writer Ben West. Photo / 123rf
Where are the best beaches in LA?
Los Angeles is famous for the beaches of Venice and Santa Monica, but there are plenty of much less crowded beaches along the coast away from the city. If you have a car, you can enjoy a lazy day at Malibu’s beaches, such as Zuma Beach, Point Dume State Beach, or Paradise Cove with its kitschy cafes.
Advertisement Advertise on NZME.
Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades offers showers, a café, a sandy volleyball court, bike and walking trails and the chance to spot dolphins and killer whales.
Just a short distance from Venice Beach’s busy boardwalk, surfers, and tacky tourist shops and restaurants, you’ll find some quieter, more charming canals that are far less visited and perfect for a stroll. Built in the 1900s, the Venice Beach Canals are lined with homes in a variety of architectural styles.
Malibu’s Zuma Beach and Point Dume State Beach are less crowded than Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach. Photo / 123rf
No one knows that LA is a hiking mecca.
The city may be known for its multi-lane highways, and in fact it has plenty of those, but it also has a surprising number of walking routes, and while walking in the centre can be a challenge (there are no sidewalks in some places), there are plenty of options outside.
My favorite walk is the Lower Canyonback Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. It has beautiful mountain and ocean views and starts at the end of North Kenter Avenue, just off Hanley Avenue in the Brentwood neighborhood. On Google Maps it’s called the Hoops Trailhead. There are numerous trails that lead off from the main trail, some are hilly, some flat, and some are circular walks. We often had the place to ourselves, and although we did see rattlesnakes and coyotes, they thankfully didn’t come near us.
Runyon Canyon Park covers 130 acres, has well-maintained trails, and offers great views of the city, including the Hollywood sign, Griffith Park, and Santa Monica Bay. The 190-acre Eaton Canyon Nature Preserve, set in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, is also a great place to visit, with miles of trails.
Walk the many trails in Griffith Park and you’ll also get to visit the Art Deco Griffith Park Observatory, featured in the film “La La Land.”
Tip: The 3-mile Mount Hollywood Trail offers great views of the Hollywood sign.
The Mount Hollywood Trail in Griffith Park offers great views of the Hollywood sign. Photo / 123rf
Explore different regions
Transportation options in Los Angeles, like taxis and Uber, are relatively cheap and a great way to explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Hollywood is the most famous, of course, but lesser-known areas like neighboring Los Feliz are also worth a visit: a tranquil, hilly enclave filled with cafes, restaurants, boutiques and homes designed by the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra.
Downtown is a vibrant mix of the wealthy financial district and the homeless grittiness of Skid Row. There’s plenty to see, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Union Station, Grand Central Market and plenty of old theatres.
When I walk around Skid Row, past people clearly in dire need of medical assistance, pushing shopping carts packed with all their possessions, and people seemingly high on drugs, or through the leafy streets lined with swanky designer shops on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and the mansions of celebrities in Bel Air, it’s hard to believe I’m in the same city.
Advertisement Advertise on NZME.
But that’s the beauty of Los Angeles: there’s something completely different right around the corner.
Rodeo Drive is a famous shopping district in Beverly Hills, California, known for its luxury boutiques and designer stores. Photo / 123rf
The best place to spot celebrities
If you’re expecting to spot celebrities like Nicole Kidman or Brad Pitt in the mansions of Los Angeles, you’ll be disappointed, since many of them are surrounded by long driveways. But your chances of seeing them are certainly higher if you hang out in places like Rodeo Drive, high-end, highly rated restaurants, the Malibu Country Mart, and the lounges and bars of top hotels like the Hotel Bel-Air and the Beverly Hills Hotel. I was having lunch at the Brentwood Country Mart one Sunday when Kate Hudson and her mother Goldie Hawn walked past. But the ensuing paparazzi intrusion was unpleasant. They just wanted to look at clothes in a boutique, and it was unpleasant to be around the swarms of cameras and super aggressive photographers.
But it was just one of a diverse and unforgettable experience in one of the most inspiring cities on Earth.
Checklist
Los Angeles
directions
A direct flight from Auckland to Los Angeles with Air New Zealand takes approximately 12 hours.
detail
Advertisement Advertise on NZME.
https://www.visitcalifornia.com/